Connecting-rod adapter for internal-combustion engines



Nov. 10, 1925. 1,561,269

C. E. MILLER CONNECTING ROD ADAPTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Ma 23, 1925 INVENTOR. E. E. ITIILLER wag a 'A TTORN YS.

Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

CARLTON E. LIILLER, ATHER'ION, CALIFORNIA.

CONNECTING-ROD ADAPTER FOR. INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed May 23, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARLTON E. MILLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Atherton, in the county of San Mateo, State of Ca lifornia,'have invented new and useful Improvements in Connecting-Rod Adapters for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates in general to internal combustion engines and has par ticular reference to means for extending the compression stroke of the piston for converting a comparatively low compression engine into a relatively high compression engine so as to adapt the same to fuel in which the peak of efliciency is realized at a high compression.

Briefly, the salient features of my invention reside in what I call an adapter, the same having been designed primarily for the purpose of converting existing types of internal combustion engines, which are built for comparatively low compression work, into engines of relatively high compression.

To more clearly outline the purpose of the invention I shall refer to the use of the so-called ethyl gasoline which has recently been offered on the market. This gasoline works in the present internal combustion engine somewhat better than ordinary gasoline, but its greatest efficiency is realized by a higher compression than can be obtained with the conventional type of engine. In other words, ordinary gasoline, when used in an engine capable of high compression, will develop pre-ignition and other disadvantages. Consequently, the majority of engines now in use, at least for motor vehicles, work under a comparatively low compression. The purpose of my invention is to provide simple yet practical means for changing over engines now in use, so as to accommodate them to this ethyl gasoline. I can realize this end without changing the construction of the engine, and without even taking the same apart.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a view in cross section of a portion of an internal combustion engine i1- lustrating the application of my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail view in side elevation of a Serial No 32,271.

connecting rod showing my invention applied thereto, and Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the adapter per se.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, 1 represents the customary water cooled cylinder, 2 the piston, 3 the connecting rod, and 4; the crank shaft. These parts are simply illustrative of the application of my invention and their particular construction or type is of no importance as far as concerns the use of my adapter. The illustration in Fig. 1 shows the piston 2 at the limit of its compression stroke and the dotted lines as at A-A show the limit of .its stroke as it was originally intended and before the adapter was applied. This adapter preferably comprises a built-up hearing, so to speak, made with a spacer having a semicircular rib or bead 5 of various thicknesses depending upon the desired length that the stroke is to be extended. The inside of the bead as at 6 'is likewise semi-circular to embrace the crank shaft 4 and carry the usual bearing metal. The extensions 8 and 9 will be made to correspond to the divided halves of the connecting rod bearing and the bolts 10 will be made longer than usual to accommodate the increased thickness as a result of introducing the spacer. The lowerhalf 11 and the upper half 12 of the bearing are in no way altered, the adapter being simply introduced between the same and longer bolts 10 used as just stated for the increased thickness.

My invention simply lengthens the connecting rod and consequently extends the compression stroke of the piston so as to cut down the clearance between the piston and cylinder head.

Quite naturally longer connecting rods would accomplish the same purpose but the time required to change connecting rods and the expense of the same, especially as the engine would have to be taken down to change them could not compete with a job where only the crank case was removed and a simple and inexpensive adapter introduced as a spacer in between the halves of the connecting rod bearing.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston therein, a crank shaft and a connecting rod between the crank shaft and piston, a bearing connecting the connecting rod with the crank shaft and means for extending the length of the compression stroke of the piston, comprising means introduced between the upper part of the connecting rod bearing and the crank shaft.

2. A connecting rod adapter for internal combustion engines comprising means introduced if; the bearing of the connecting rod for lengthening the same With respect to the crank shaft and piston.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a reciprocating piston therein, a crank shaft and a connecting rod connecting the piston to the crank shaft, a bearing for the connecting rod and means for building up the top side of the bearing for extending the compression stroke of the piston in the cylinder.

4:. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a reciprocating piston therein, a crank shaft and a connecting rod connecting the piston to the crank shaft, a bearing for the connecting rod and means for building up the top side of the bearing for extending the compression stroke of the piston in the cylinder comprising a spacer made to conform to one-half of the bearing and adapted to be fitted to said half for increasing the length of the connecting rod. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CARLTON E. MILLER. 

